A Word (or Two) on Eating Diabetic

Written by Amy Tenderich
| Published on May 27, 2005

You can always spot me at a party: I'm the lady hovering at the edge of the buffet table, muttering to herself as she counts and recounts the strawberries on her plate; I'm the one clutching her purse maniacally when the host says, "you can put your stuff in here" —- cause I'm too paranoid to be separated from my monitor, pen, and glucose tabs, ever; if dinner gets delayed, I'm the one looking peevish and perturbed, piling my plate high with tortilla chips in an angry sort of way.

Actually, the whole "what can I eat?" thing is right up there on my Top 5 list of things that rocked my world when becoming diabetic: the idea that I would never, ever again be able to pop the slightest little snack or tidbit into my mouth without worrying about it, counting its carb content, doing the math and dosing for it! What a way to kill the fun of Yum.

Luckily, I've never been a problem eater (unless you count starving myself for a few years in college on the unfounded belief that SKINNY = HAPPY). But this whole "balanced meal" concept was new to me, nonetheless. I found out this means part-starch, part-protein, part-veggie or fruit -- not too much of anything at one sitting -- which should have been obvious, I know, but let's face it, what we KNOW and what we DO don't always coincide.

Even now, knowing what I do, I sometimes eat those evil ALL-CARB meals (like granola and yogurt, pasta followed by fruit salad, or chili with crackers). I often kick myself for not eating an apple instead of the bread, but naturally fruit itself is a major a dilemma, since it's healthful and delicious, but makes glucose levels spike. Some diabetics have given it up cold turkey. Man!!

In a way it's poetic justice: I was always so impatient with those nitpicky people at parties who wanted to know, "what's in the sauce?" before they'd touch it. (I was rolling my eyes in lieu of "Geez, just shut up and eat the food!"). And now here I am checking for traces of gluten, fussing about sauces and dips and dried fruit and God knows what...

What I have learned is that I can't count on anyone or any group, any book, paid program, or course to make me eat right. I have to do it MYSELF -— at every party, picnic, get-together, at every meal, and every moment when someone offers me food. If I deem it worthy of my efforts, I have to worry about it, count its carb content, do the math, and dose for it!

The new June issue of Diabetes Forecast, which arrived on my doorstep already two weeks ago, is all about "Fabulous Food Tips." As I opened mine, I first came across the note from the publisher Peter Banks talking about the ADA's new food guidelines and how they've now barred advertising from the "wrong" food companies. This whole issue is packed with good-looking recipes, actually. But how long have they been publishing that mag? More than 50 years, according to the cover. And how long have we known that certain advertisers' food products are wrong for diabetics (if not for everyone?) So I'm assuming someone's turned up the heat on them, no?!

Evidently there are some other experts out there doing something truly proactive to help diabetics enjoy "normal" food. See "Doctors Want Diabetics to Eat Pizza Without Guilt." Yeah, right.

Disclaimer: Content created by the Diabetes Mine team. For more details click here.

Disclaimer

This content is created for Diabetes Mine, a consumer health blog focused on the diabetes community.
The content is not medically reviewed and doesn't adhere to Healthline's editorial guidelines.
For more information about Healthline's partnership with Diabetes Mine, please click here.

Add a comment ()

Archived Comments

Shannon Lewis|2005-05-27

Amy,I know just how you feel about food and parties. Whenever we go to one with the kids, Jeff and I hover over the buffet table trying to see if anything is measurable carb wise. Then we break out our hand dandy Calorie King book and start calculating. Then comes the cake and much relief if there's a nutrition label on the box...much trepidation if there isn't.Parties aren't as fun as they used to be for Jeff and I, but Brendon doesn't know that.

chester|2005-05-27

thanks for your site -- as someone with diabetes for 13 years - insulin dependent for 8 -- i can tell you it does get better -- it becomes second nature - and it feels good to be in control as opposed to not knowing what is going on in your body-- adjusting to diabetes is learning that only you can take care of yourself ... no one could do it for you.... and that is very empowering if you can embrace it. you sound well on your way --

Kasp|2005-05-29

Hi, it's a nice blog you have here, but on reading this post it sounds as if you make diabetes seem more of a burdon than it is! I'm assuming you are from America, and by the sounds of it things are done differently there. It sounds like you adjust the food to the insulin? In the UK we tend to adjust the insulin to the food - the idea is to eat whatever you like be it chocolate cake or an apple and then give the right amount to cover it. I have been diabetic for 17 years, all of which insulin dependent. I counted carbs for about the first 5-8. I now just eat more or less when I like and what I like, while maintaining a healthy diet. With plently of bloodtests to make sure I'm in reasonable levels. I don't know if the readers of this site have ever tried this method but it makes life so much easier without having much effect on HBA1 levels (if you get them over there?). Thought I'd share my thoughts - keep up the good blog!

AmyT|2005-05-30

Kasp:Everything becomes commonplace with time; after 2 years, I've kinda got the eating thing down (although dinner time is still hard).But wanted to share my experience, and the knowledge that "it ain't easy being D."- Amy

Shannon Lewis|2005-05-30

Counting carbs isn't as time consuming as I seemed to let on in my comment. It takes all of 10 min from beginning to end, but the tension of making sure we've calculated the carbs correctly is what makes it stressful.

Mark|2005-06-09

I've been a type 2 diabetic for about 8 years now (I'm 54). Just stumbled upon your blog - great stuff - like that you have an RSS feed. I was curious if you have ever tried Dreamfields pasta - http://www.mendosa.com/dreamfields_pasta.htm ? I can not tell the diff between it and regular pasta and my blood sugar levels are much lower after eating it than after eating regular pasta. Was curious if you've had any experience with it.

I quit cold turkey eating refined carbohydrates and fast-acting carbohydrates six months ago when I switched to Dick Bernstein's diet and exercise program. I recently learned how to follow the diet while eating at restaurants and while traveling. Myglycosylated hemoglobin result is down to 5.1%, which the lab says corresponds to 93 mg/dL.This is my first summer without fruit. I don'tmiss it. I like feeling normal again! What a treat!

Related posts

Written by DiabetesMine | Comics from the diabetes community on
Aug
02,
2015

We can feel it, People... Thanks to the artistic Jerry King, an accomplished cartoonist who's name has appeared in 200+ spots worldwide each month including newspapers, magazines, websites, greeting cards and beyond. Sunday Funnies: Wa...

We know Dr. Francine Kaufman as a renowned endo and global force, helping to change the fate of those with diabetes in developing parts of the world where access to medicine and care is at its lowest. She is a professor at the University of Southe...

Need help navigating life with diabetes? Ask D'Mine! That would be our weekly advice column, hosted by veteran type 1, diabetes author and clinical diabetes educator Wil DuboisThis week, Wil takes another look at a common question often posed by ...

Moving Day is here!Yep, my wife Suzi, our dog Riley and I are making the move back to Michigan today, leaving Indiana after living here for 11 years. Today is actually the big day, so I'm off the grid carting boxes and furniture into the giant UHa...

Diabetes isn't easy, so many of us living with this condition often need to reach out to other pancreatically-challenged folk for tips and moral support. That's why we offer Ask D'Mine, our weekly advice column that offers honest straight talk a...

We're sorry, an error occurred.

Thank you for your feedback. Your health and well being are important to us. We're sorry you couldn't find the information you were looking for this time, but your comments will help us identify gaps and improve our content.

We applaud you for taking an active role in your health!

To your health,
The Healthline Team

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Close

Advertisement

Healthline’s mission is to make the people of the world healthier through the power of information. We do this by creating quality health information that is authoritative, approachable, and actionable.

Join more than 30 million monthly visitors like you and let Healthline be your guide to better health.